Paris: Lessons to learn

Paris Cowan-Hall said the Chairboys were taught a valuable lesson in taking advantage of their spells of dominance in last weekend’s defeat to Charlton Athletic.

After going five games unbeaten in all competitions prior to the fixture, the Chairboys began the game at the Valley full of confidence and earned a 7th minute lead after Randell Williams' excellent finish from 20 yards. But the tide turned after Sido Jombati turned into his own net before the break.

Despite another strong start in the second period from the visitors, Lyle Taylor and Naby Sarr seemingly put the game out of sight before substitute Cowan-Hall, making his first league appearance since the opening day, set up a grandstand finale with a bullet header.

Sadly it was not to be despite dominating the game in large spells against a side that have their eyes set on promotion to the Sky Bet Championship. What the Addicks did have over Wanderers however, was a clinical edge; with three goals from four shots on target, albeit one from was from an own-goal.

The need to pounce when in a dominant position, especially away from home, is one that gets higher the further you rise up the football pyramid. The Chairboys have already come on leaps and bounds as they get to grips with Sky Bet League One and Cowan-Hall says the lessons they learned at The Valley could be crucial in the months ahead.

“The result is disappointing having done so well for large parts of the game,” Paris said, speaking after the game.

“I thought the boys in the first half especially were fantastic. For the first half-an-hour we dominated the play so with that in mind it is a bit of a sucker punch to come away with nothing.

“It is a lesson for us to capitalise when you are on top because if you don’t at this level you will be punished and today’s result is testament to that.”

There is no better game to be around the corner after a disappointing defeat than a derby, and this the weekend’s fixture will be a perfect opportunity to bounce back against neighbours Oxford United.

The ‘M40 Derby’, as it has been labelled, is a game that Cowan-Hall has never been involved in his three spells at the club, but with bragging rights, a first home league win of 2018/19 and more importantly three priceless points on offer, Cowan-Hall is hoping Wanderers can offer up a performance fit for the occasion.

“We’ll be right up for the Oxford game as we were today and we’ll always look to put in 110%.

“Local derbies are always exciting games to play in and I’m sure the atmosphere will be crazy and we’re hoping to get the win in front of our fans.”